His speeches during the campaign of that year are said to have been warm, fresh, and impassioned, and he was elected by a handsome majority.
This was the first entrance of the future President upon public life.
The session was not long, and the absence of a few weeks at Columbus did not seriously interfere with his college duties.
In the Senate he at once took high rank.

He was always ready to speak, his past experience having made this easy.

He took care to inform himself upon the subjects which came up for legislation, and for this reason he was always listened to with respectful attention.

Moreover, his genial manners and warmth of heart made him a general favorite among all his fellow legislators, whether they belonged to his party or to the opposition.
Again, in the session of 1860-61, being also a member of the Senate, he took a prominent part in such measures as were proposed to uphold the National Government, menaced by the representative men of the South.

He was among the foremost in declaring that the integrity of the Union must be protected at all hazards, and declared that it was the right and duty of the Government to coerce the seceded States.
When the President's call for seventy-five thousand men was made public, and announcement was made to the Ohio Senate, Senator Garfield sprang to his feet, and amid loud applause moved that "twenty thousand troops and three millions of money" should be at once voted as Ohio's quota! He closed his speech by offering his services to Governor Dennison in any capacity.
This offer the Governor bore in mind, and on the 14th of August, 1861, Garfield was offered the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the Forty-second Ohio regiment, which he had been instrumental in forming.
It was a serious moment for Garfield.